This Knockout City PS5 review is based on our experience of the PlayStation Plus release in November 2021.
Another month, another batch of freebies on offer for PlayStation Plus subscribers. This time, Velan Studio’s Knockout City is available on both PS5 and PS4. And while it might seem an underwhelming offering at first glance, there’s some real fun to be had with it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not perfect. And it’s not going to be for everyone. But its smart blend of skilful, fast-paced gameplay and creative level design makes for an addictive experience.
Velan Studios is a relatively new development studio with only one previous game – Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. So, I wouldn’t blame you if you haven’t heard of them. Knockout City is the studio’s first foray into a team-based action game. And it combines the sport of dodgeball with brawling to create “dodgebrawling”, as the game calls it. It’s a cool concept that translates the sport to consoles well. But is Knockout City really worth a try?
Knockout City PS5 review: Gameplay
As mentioned, Knockout City centres around dodgebrawling. Dodgebrawling is a competitive team sport in which players use various balls to knockout their opponents. It’s a surprisingly fun and skilful affair, with players using all sorts of tricks and devious tactics to gain the upper hand.
In the game, the main objective is to grab a ball and launch it at your opponent to knock them down. As a general rule, one hit equals one lost life. And all players start with two lives. You pick up the balls by running into them and then throw them by pressing R2 (which can be held for a charged shot). The ball automatically locks on so enemies have to be quick to dodge or catch (with L2) the ball as it hurls towards them. Often, encounters result in some tense back and forth with players throwing and catching the ball between them. Gaining the upper hand by using tricks such as fake throws and curve balls is essential. And it can make for some great shareable moments.
There is an element of skill required in Knockout City that makes the gameplay deeper than it first appears. Players can flip or twist in mid-air and timing a concurrent throw can result in impressive curveballs or high-angle throws. There’s also the options to glide (which aids in navigation) or curl up into a ball. When you do the latter, other players can throw you for one hit knockouts or a devastating charged bomb attack. It makes effective teamwork central to every game.
While the gameplay works well and can be addictive in short bursts, I’m not sure how long it can sustain interest in the long term. I feel like once you’ve played a handful of matches of each game mode (which do change), you’ve kind of seen all it has to offer. And the different game modes don’t really alter things that much.
Game modes
So, what game modes are there in Knockout City? Well, they vary in an attempt to keep things fresh. When I picked it up on PlayStation Plus, the available game modes were 3v3 (the standard mode), 2v2, and KO Royale (Knockout City‘s take on a battle royale).
3v3 was by far the most fun. Two teams compete to be the first to ten KOs, with games being a best of three. The concept works really well as a team-based game and working together was an effective strategy in every game I played. Best of all, other players seemed to be on board, too. I didn’t play any games where someone went into business purely for themselves.
2v2 is similar to 3v3 but with smaller teams. It’s still fun, but I preferred the extra two players as they helped to keep the action flowing.
KO Royale was good. But I grew tired of it quickly. The concept works unexpectedly well as a battle royale. But due to the incredibly fast-paced nature of games, it can be frustrating when compared to the more consistently steady gameplay in the team-based modes. Often, games would end with the same “throw it, catch it” stand-offs, too. And while they could be nail-biting, it kind of exposed the lack of strategic options available to players in the mode.
Crossplay Multiplayer & Matchmaking
Knockout City features crossplay multiplayer between consoles and PC. That means you can play with friends no matter what platform they’re using – be it PS4, PC, Xbox or Nintendo Switch.
During my time with the game on PS5 for this review, I only matched with other PlayStation players… Or bots. Now, I’m not sure why I matched with bots on a few occasions. My internet connection was fine. But there were games where I was the only actual human player. It was fine when it was my first couple of games. But after playing against real players, bots just don’t cut it. PC Gamer reported that Knockout City had 2 million players in its first week, but I’m wondering if there’s been a big drop off.
Knockout City PS5 Review: DualSense, 60fps, graphics
The PS5 version of the game offers no DualSense features. Just basic rumble as you’d have on the DualShock 4. Now, at first I wondered if I was playing the PS4 version of the game. But when I checked, it was badged as the PS5 version on my home screen. Obviously, DualSense features aren’t essential. But they’re nice, so it’s a shame they weren’t included.
Performance-wise, the default graphics mode offers 60fps on PS5. There’s also a 120fps mode which reduces graphical fidelity. For a game like this, slightly better graphics are kind of redundant when a smoother frame rate is on offer. But each to their own. It’s always good to have the choice.
The game has a nice art style which is in tune with its fun gameplay. Personally, I hate the character models, though. I just find them creepy. Although, the game does offer a decent amount of customisation options which allow you to make your character unique. For some reason, however, the face editor tool didn’t work properly for me. Either way, a lot of cosmetics are unlocked through Knockout City‘s “Brawl Pass” and “Brawl Shop”. Of course, these are built around microtransactions (which is annoying). But hey, it’s 2021 – we’d be naive to expect any different.
Knockout City PS5 Review: Creative Maps
The level/map design on display in Knockout City is first rate. Each map offers something unique and different. And it’s clear that a lot of thought has been given as to how each map can change gameplay. For example, there’s a map with a giant swinging wrecking ball, one with a busy road of traffic, and another with two train lines. All this adds another layer of depth to Knockout City‘s dodgebrawling which a less thoughtful developer might have left out. Velan Studios didn’t, though, and the game is better for it.
Knockout City PS5 Review: Verdict
Let’s face it – Knockout City is one of those titles that PS Plus subscribers will see on the list of monthly freebies and groan. Many will probably skip over it. But I’m telling you – it’s definitely worth a try. That’s because it’s fun, competitive and creative. More importantly, it offers something unique. And that’s its “dodgebrawling” concept, which can be so addictive. Look – it might not keep you hooked for weeks, but it’s a blast in the short term for what it is.
I doubt I’ll be playing Knockout City long into the future. But I think I’ll enjoy it for a few more weeks. And as a PlayStation Plus freebie, I’d certainly recommend you check it out.
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Version played: PS5
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